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booktoilandtrouble's review
4.0
Well... This was a pretty amazing read and so quick too!
The character study novel explores the dynamics between David, his girlfriend Flora, and their friend Joe. They have such a simple yet complex relationship... Between the three of them there's desire, conflict, obsession, uncertainty, exploration and cruelty. The writing is explicit and harsh, cutting deep, and the structure is interesting with the tense and person (1st/3rd) changing randomly. At first, it threw me off but soon becomes clear if you catch all the breadcrumbs towards the end of the book as to why Aiden Shaw did it like that.
Although it was somewhat predicatable, it surprised me more often than I guessed the plot correctly... And the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because at times I felt there were chapters which weren't necessary, or Aiden Shaw was too explicit without warning (except for the chapter name which is too late at that point) to a reader whom may be triggered (actually, not what the Internet has made it out to be) by certain events.
However, as explicit as the description is, its handled fairly well. I went into this predicting sexual desire and need, but it actually turned out completely differently and reinforced some important taboo talking points which need to be explored in literature - yet there is so much stigma around them that authors are afraid to get the balance wrong. Aiden Shaw doesn't shy away, even if at times he goes in too much. His past as a gay porn star came into the novel in snippets, which added authenticity, and could explain why he is so explicit without care - because its nothing taboo to him.
The character study novel explores the dynamics between David, his girlfriend Flora, and their friend Joe. They have such a simple yet complex relationship... Between the three of them there's desire, conflict, obsession, uncertainty, exploration and cruelty. The writing is explicit and harsh, cutting deep, and the structure is interesting with the tense and person (1st/3rd) changing randomly. At first, it threw me off but soon becomes clear if you catch all the breadcrumbs towards the end of the book as to why Aiden Shaw did it like that.
Although it was somewhat predicatable, it surprised me more often than I guessed the plot correctly... And the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because at times I felt there were chapters which weren't necessary, or Aiden Shaw was too explicit without warning (except for the chapter name which is too late at that point) to a reader whom may be triggered (actually, not what the Internet has made it out to be) by certain events.
However, as explicit as the description is, its handled fairly well. I went into this predicting sexual desire and need, but it actually turned out completely differently and reinforced some important taboo talking points which need to be explored in literature - yet there is so much stigma around them that authors are afraid to get the balance wrong. Aiden Shaw doesn't shy away, even if at times he goes in too much. His past as a gay porn star came into the novel in snippets, which added authenticity, and could explain why he is so explicit without care - because its nothing taboo to him.
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